Container

ABSTRACT

A container for one or a plurality of like objects such as stereo cassettes, said container being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like and comprised of a main panel having first and second article securing members foldably connected to opposed sides of a main panel. One of the article securing members is selectively foldable to secure one or more of the like objects into position, and the second securing member is provided with structure selectively foldable to position according to whether none or a pair of the objects is secured in position. Each of the article securing members has an element foldable into confronting and contacting relationship with the other article securing member, irrespective of the number or presence of the objects secured in position within the article securing members. Closure structure extends from the remaining opposed edges of the main panel and cooperates with the first and second article securing members.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,744,703 [4511 July 10,1973

Mortenson CONTAINER [75] Inventor: Wallis Mortenson, Park Ridge, 111.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 220,189

[52] US. Cl. 229/27, 206/65 R [51] 1nt.Cl 865d 5/44, B65d 5/48 [58] Field of Search 229/27, 16 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,208,079 9/1965 St. John 229/27 2,076,844 4/1937 Ho1mes.... 229/16 R X 2,330,345 9/1943 Elliott 229/16 R 1,911,215 5/1933 Walter 206/4531 X 3,587,837 6/1971 Smith et al 229/27 X 2,284,8l5 6/1942 Grimm 229/27 Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney- Carpenter, Ostis and Lindberg [57] ABSTRACT A container for one or a plurality of like objects such as stereo cassettes, said container being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like and comprised of a main panel having first and second article securing members foldably connected to opposed sides of a main panel. One of the article securing memhers is selectively foldable to secure one or more of the like objects into position, and the second securing member is provided with structure selectively foldable to position according to whether none or a pair of the objects is secured in position. Each of the article securing members has an element foldable into confronting and contacting relationship with the other article securing member, irrespective of the number or presence of the objects secured in position within the article securing members. Closure structure extends from the remaining opposed edges of the main panel and cooperates with the first and second article securing members.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures 1 CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The structure disclosed herein makes it possible to ship one or a plurality of like small objects such as stereo cassettes in a container, it having structure therein foldable to position whether one, a total number or a number therebetween is to be shipped.

2. The Prior Art The closest prior art developed in a search are the following patents:

Grimm 2,284,815 June 2, 1942 229/27 Van Sickels 2,329,866 Sept. 21, 1943 229/27 Elliott 2,330,345 Sept. 28, 1943 229/16 Kohl 2,593,895 Apr. 22, 1952 229/27 Joseph et al 2,874,512 Feb. 24, 1959 46/25 Sherman et a] 3,166,229 Jan. 19, 1965 229127 St. John 3,208,079 Se 21, 1965 229/27 .Iohmon et al 3,236,439 Fe 22, 1966 229/27 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure according to the present invention makes it possible to employ a single folder or wrapper for enclosing and shipping one or a plurality of like small articles such as stereo cassettes. Structure is provided in the folder whereby one or a plurality of such objects may be properly located therewithin in secure placement and incapable of being disturbed or dislodged in shipping.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a container constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a cut and scored blank for forming the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing a step in the forming of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a further step;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross section taken substantially along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view showing a final step in forming the container of FIG. 1.

SPECIFICATION The improved container for one or a plurality of like objects is referred to generally by the reference numeral l0 and is formed from a cut and scored blank of 10A made of paperboard or the like seen in FIG. 2. The container 10 is arranged to hold and secure in position one or a plurality of flat articles such as stereo cassettes Cut and scored blank 10A comprises a rectangular these being foldably connected to each other along fold lines 28, and panel element 24 being connected to an edge of the rectangular panel 11 opposed from the edge to which the first article securing member 12 is attached along a fold line 29.

A bracing structure 31 is provided in the second securing panel element 26 and is defined by a cut line 32 extending perpendicularly between the spaced fold lines 28; cut lines 33 coextensive with the fold lines 28 and interrupting the same; and a fold line 34 spaced from the out line 32 and extending between the spaced cut lines 33.

A closure structure is provided for container 10 and is indicated generally by numeral 35. It is comprised of pairs of first and second closure flaps 36 and 37 foldably connected to each other along a fold line 38, first closure flap being connected to an edge of the main panel 11 along a fold line 39.

The steps of folding the container for shipment of one or more of the objects C is seen with respect to FIGS. 3 to 6 inclusive. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the first articles securing member 12 is folded into the position shown with the kick-in members 19 in the position shown. A cassette C is held in position along the main 5 panel 11 and beneath the kick-in members 19. If but main panel 11 having a first article securing member 12 foldably connected to one side thereof. First article securing member 12 comprises foldably interconnected panel elements 13, 14, and 16, these being foldably connected to each other along fold lines 17, and element 13 being foldably connected to an edge of main panel 11 along a fold line 18.

First article securing member 12 includes a pair of kick-in members 19. Each of these is defined by score lines 21 spaced to each side of the score lines 17 and by spaced out lines 22 extending perpendicularly to the score lines 21 and connecting the same.

The second article securing member is referred to generally by the reference numeral 23 and consists of securing interconnected panel elements 24, 26, and 27,

one cassette C is to be shipped, the second securing member 23 is folded into position with element 27 thereof in confronting relationship with the element 16 of the first securing member 12. In such a case, the securing flap 31 is folded about the fold line 28 to the position seen in FIG. 4 substantially in alignment with the fold line 39 to brace the same as seen in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the closure structure 34 may be folded to the position seen in FIG. 6.

If two cassettes are to be shipped within the folder, the bracing structure 31 will be moved out of plane of element 26, and a pair of cassettes may be held in posi tion by the first article securing member 12, the closure of the container being as of before. And for three cassettes, a single cassette can be held in position by the article securing member 12 with the kick-in flaps 19 being positioned as before, with two cassettes held by second article securing member 23. In like fashion, if four cassettes are to be secured in position, the kick-in members 19 will remain in the respective planes 13 and 14 of the first article securing member 12 to hold two cassettes therein, the other two being held by second securing member 23.

I claim:

1. A container selectively employable for the packaging of one or more like objects, such as cassettes, said container being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard, or the like, and comprising:

'a. a main panel;

b. a first article securing member foldably connected to one side of said main panel and folded to position to define a tube;

c. said tube having at least one element thereof, de-

fined by two substantially parallel cuts extending into adjacent walls thereof, foldable on parallel fold lines to position to selectively secure one or more of said like objects into position;

d. a second article securing member foldably connected to an opposite side of said main panel and folded to position to define a second tube;

c. said second tube having an element formed in one of the walls thereof and being adapted to be folded 3 4 out of the plane of said wall on a fold line extending in position in said first and second article securing transversely of the axis of said tube toward and into b Contact mam panel; g. closure means extending from at least one other f. each of said article securing members having a panel foldable with respect thereto into confront- 5 ing and contacting relationship with the correl H sponding panel of the other member irrespective of 8 Same P the number or presence of said like objects secured side of said main panel and cooperating with said first and second article securing members for hold- 

1. A container selectively employable for the packaging of one or more like objects, such as cassettes, said container being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard, or the like, and comprising: a. a main panel; b. a first article securing member foldably connected to one side of said main panel and folded to position to define a tube; c. said tube having at least one element thereof, defined by two substantially parallel cuts extending into adjacent walls thereof, foldable on parallel fold lines to position to selectively secure one or more of said like objects into position; d. a second article securing member foldably connected to an opposite side of said main panel and folded to position to define a second tube; e. said second tube having an element formed in one of the walls thereof and being adapted to be folded out of the plane of said wall on a fold line extending transversely of the axis of said tube toward and into contact with said main panel; f. each of said article securing members having a panel foldable with respect thereto into confronting and contacting relationship with the corresponding panel of the other member irrespective of the number or presence of said like objects secured in position in said first and second article securing members; g. closure means extending from at least one other side of said main panel and cooperating with said first and second article securing members for holding same in position. 